Health law broadens coverage for millions with HIV, AIDS

Oct 29 2013

Stateline reports how the health law will broaden benefits for many of the 1.1 million Americans infected with HIV, especially those who live in the 25 states that are expanding Medicaid. Meanwhile, the Obama administration stresses that information an individual submits to sign up for health coverage cannot be used to enforce immigration law. 

Stateline: How The ACA Will Affect People With HIV And AIDS
The Affordable Care Act will broaden health care coverage for many of the 1.1 million Americans infected with HIV, especially those who live in the 25 states and the District of Columbia that have opted to expand Medicaid. In those states, the larger Medicaid programs will cover about 60 percent of the mostly uninsured patients currently receiving help from federal-state HIV programs. As a result, state officials who run so-called Ryan White programs that provide health care and other services for HIV-infected residents are preparing for a major shift in the type of benefits they offer and possibly the level of future investment (Vestal, 10/28).

The Associated Press: U.S. Says Healthcare Info Off Limits In Civil Immigration Cases
The Obama administration is stressing that information submitted while signing up for coverage under the new healthcare law will not be used to enforce immigration law. That's always been the practice, but lingering fear among some immigrants that personal details could be used against them led the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency to clarify (10/27).